Pharaoh Cleopatra and Tang Empress Wu Zetian were one of the few women rulers. Both of them became strong rulers, during a time of mainly strong male rulers. Although their style of ruling was different both of them were successful rulers. Each one of them used different tactics to become rulers. They were both ruthless in their desire to gain and keep power. They would eliminate potential rivals, even if it was their own relatives.
Wu Zetian was famous in Chinese history because she was the only woman who ruled in her own name. She was also the only woman in Chinese history to rule as emperor.
Wu Zetian became a favorite concubine of the new emperor. The old emperor died and Kao Tsung became the new emperor. In spite of him being married; Wu Zetian had sons by the Tsung as he wanted. She eventually convinced him to get rid of his wife, by accusing her of murdering his newborn daughter that Wu Zetian had given birth to. The emperor believed Wu Zetian’s story and got rid of his wife and married her (Fitzgerald 2014). After a few years of being married, her husband became ill. This allowed her to take over the administrative duties of the court, which was a position equal to the emperor. Once her husband died, she was able to outflank her eldest sons and moved her youngest son into power. Even though; he had the power Wu Zetian was his mother and he did whatever she told him to do. This allowed her to gain more powerful (Fitzgerald 2014). Pharaoh Cleopatra came from a decedent of a long line of Egyptian rulers. She was born a princess of Egypt; however this did not make it easy for her to become ruler. When Cleopatra’s father passed away, the throne belonged to Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII. In order to become co-rulers they had to marry each other, according to Egyptian law (Cleopatra VII Biography). Ptolemy XIII soon became jealous of Cleopatra; he thought she was gaining more power than him. He soon gathered an army together and forced Cleopatra to leave. Fearing for her life, she exiled to Syria. Cleopatra drew people in with her intelligence, charm and knowledge of being able to speak fluently in several different languages. Using her intelligence and charm she became allies with the Roman General and Statesman Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar would be the one to defeat her brother and his supporters and give her back the Egyptian throne. She was once again in power, to protect the Egyptian people (Cleopatra VII Biography). During Cleopatra’s reign her main goal was to try to keep Rome from taking over Egypt. Egypt was a rich country and Rome wanted some of that wealth. To keep Rome as an ally, she offered them financial support through resources such as grain, warships and soldiers. She sought out to protect Egypt from the takeover of the Roman Empire, which was headed by Julius Caesar. Throughout her reign, Egypt …show more content…
Her ruling brought about social changes that stabilized Chinese dynasty and ushered in the Chinese civilization.
These women fought a good fight but Cleopatra lost the fight at the end. After the death of Cleopatra, Rome still took over Egypt. Wu Zetian’s polices did cause a transformation in the Chinese Dynasty and were of great historical importance. She ruled during the time of Confucian beliefs, that having a woman rule would be as unnatural as having a "hen crow like a rooster at daybreak," during the most glorious years of the Tang dynasty a woman did rule, and ruled successfully (Brennan 2014).
To counteract this belief, she made it her business to start a campaign to elevate the position of women. I believe Chinese culture is still in fighting right today about the acceptance of the elevation of women in high positions in society and so is the United States especially when it comes to politics. I believe we are further along than China when it comes to the acceptance of leadership from women.
Both of these women were courageous. During their era men were the dominant figures and to be a female ruler during this era of time was a great accomplishment. I have to applaud both of these women for standing up and trying to make a difference in their
Wu Zetian was famous in Chinese history because she was the only woman who ruled in her own name. She was also the only woman in Chinese history to rule as emperor.
Wu Zetian became a favorite concubine of the new emperor. The old emperor died and Kao Tsung became the new emperor. In spite of him being married; Wu Zetian had sons by the Tsung as he wanted. She eventually convinced him to get rid of his wife, by accusing her of murdering his newborn daughter that Wu Zetian had given birth to. The emperor believed Wu Zetian’s story and got rid of his wife and married her (Fitzgerald 2014). After a few years of being married, her husband became ill. This allowed her to take over the administrative duties of the court, which was a position equal to the emperor. Once her husband died, she was able to outflank her eldest sons and moved her youngest son into power. Even though; he had the power Wu Zetian was his mother and he did whatever she told him to do. This allowed her to gain more powerful (Fitzgerald 2014). Pharaoh Cleopatra came from a decedent of a long line of Egyptian rulers. She was born a princess of Egypt; however this did not make it easy for her to become ruler. When Cleopatra’s father passed away, the throne belonged to Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy XIII. In order to become co-rulers they had to marry each other, according to Egyptian law (Cleopatra VII Biography). Ptolemy XIII soon became jealous of Cleopatra; he thought she was gaining more power than him. He soon gathered an army together and forced Cleopatra to leave. Fearing for her life, she exiled to Syria. Cleopatra drew people in with her intelligence, charm and knowledge of being able to speak fluently in several different languages. Using her intelligence and charm she became allies with the Roman General and Statesman Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar would be the one to defeat her brother and his supporters and give her back the Egyptian throne. She was once again in power, to protect the Egyptian people (Cleopatra VII Biography). During Cleopatra’s reign her main goal was to try to keep Rome from taking over Egypt. Egypt was a rich country and Rome wanted some of that wealth. To keep Rome as an ally, she offered them financial support through resources such as grain, warships and soldiers. She sought out to protect Egypt from the takeover of the Roman Empire, which was headed by Julius Caesar. Throughout her reign, Egypt …show more content…
Her ruling brought about social changes that stabilized Chinese dynasty and ushered in the Chinese civilization.
These women fought a good fight but Cleopatra lost the fight at the end. After the death of Cleopatra, Rome still took over Egypt. Wu Zetian’s polices did cause a transformation in the Chinese Dynasty and were of great historical importance. She ruled during the time of Confucian beliefs, that having a woman rule would be as unnatural as having a "hen crow like a rooster at daybreak," during the most glorious years of the Tang dynasty a woman did rule, and ruled successfully (Brennan 2014).
To counteract this belief, she made it her business to start a campaign to elevate the position of women. I believe Chinese culture is still in fighting right today about the acceptance of the elevation of women in high positions in society and so is the United States especially when it comes to politics. I believe we are further along than China when it comes to the acceptance of leadership from women.
Both of these women were courageous. During their era men were the dominant figures and to be a female ruler during this era of time was a great accomplishment. I have to applaud both of these women for standing up and trying to make a difference in their